Drawing Near to God

Has this ever happened to you? You are driving down the highway listening to your favorite station on the radio, a song comes on, and before it finishes the reception starts to go out. Static starts to overcome the music and lyrics. You really want to hear the song because it is one of your favorites, but no matter how hard you try to tune it in better, adjusting all the fine tuning knobs, it is no use—you are moving out of range. It is not that the station stopped broadcasting. It is not that your radio quit working. The trouble is that you have moved too far away from the station to get clear reception.

Our relationship with God works much the same way! He is our source of guidance, power, strength, and everything else that would help our lives become a beautiful melody of songs. However, too many times the music and lyrics are hard to hear because we have moved too far away and all people hear is static. James reminds us that when we draw near to God He will draw near to us (James 4:8). He includes through verse 10 how this will happen, and begins with cleansing our hands and purifying our hearts! In other words, he admonishes Christians to fine tune their lives by dealing with both the sin that is now in their lives (cleansing their hands) and the intentions that are in their hearts (purifying their hearts).

This morning we will consider why God gave the Israelites the Law and how it was part of their call to become a holy nation. As He sought to draw the people near to Him at Mt. Sinai, it was only going to happen if they lived according to the nature and will of the One True God! His calling for them to be a Holy Nation was so He could dwell in their midst and be near to them! It is sin that puts a separation between God and man, and only when we have made a determination to turn back and draw near to Him will we be able to receive the power that has been made available for each of us. Then our lives can truly be a beautiful song that plays without static or interruption as we travel down the highway of this life!

It Is Coming!!!

Six weeks from today (September 16th) we will begin a series of sermons that is my absolute favorite material to teach or preach. We will be looking at how God introduces Himself through the book of Genesis. This is a series meant to increase faith and empower this church family so we are better equipped to share who God is and what He desires from us as we live in a relationship of covenant with Him. Please be praying for this series and YOUR involvement in it!!! This will be a great time to invite those who do not know God so they can see how awesome and beautiful God’s plans are for our lives. It will also be a time to instruct those who already have a deep abiding faith in God as to how the Scriptures can be shared with the lost. Get excited about this! This will be a fun series to study together and a good time for growth in our spiritual walks!!!

To listen to sermon, click What is a Holy Nation?